The 2021-22 annual report of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) was tabled in parliament on Monday 24 October 2022 and is now available in the Commonwealth government Transparency Portal.
The report covers the activities of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ARPANSA and its supporting committees, as well as ARPANSA’s performance against key activities and financial objectives.
Highlights include:
- ARPANSA’s involvement in strategic government initiatives, including the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines
- supporting safety and quality of Australia’s cancer treatment programs
- progression of the Australian Government’s Electromagnetic Energy (EME) Program.
‘Radiation protection and nuclear safety is a specialised scientific field and so it presents a complex operating environment with both longstanding and emerging challenges,’ said ARPANSA CEO Dr Gillian Hirth.
‘Despite the resourcing challenges presented over the financial year, ARPANSA has been working diligently to achieve performance measures and continue to achieve its mandate of protecting the Australian people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation.’
The report also discusses the follow up work undertaken to address findings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission received by Australia in 2018.
This work is a culmination of many years of work by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments to benchmark Australia against international best practice.
‘During the 2022-23 financial year, ARPANSA is now preparing for the follow up review mission scheduled for October 2023, which will examine Australia’s progress since the 2018 review.’ said Dr Hirth.
The report also highlights some of ARPANSA’s major projects and achievements in ultraviolet (UV) radiation research including review of sunscreen testing protocols, the launch of the SunSmart Global UV App and research into the Antarctic ozone hole.
‘The global SunSmart app is particularly useful for Australians when travelling overseas to warmer climates during our winter, and now in Australia as we enter the warmer months where the UV Index regularly reaches 3 or above, meaning sun protection is recommended,’ said Dr Hirth.
Read the full ARPANSA annual report 2021-22 on the Commonwealth government Transparency Portal or on the ARPANSA website.
